Computer power supplies

I just read your post about fridge motors. Are the power supplies in
computers a very similar thing. Because I am wondering if this is
possibly the source of my problems, because someone else in my house
starts clearing their throat whenever the computer is turned on. I
have become sensitive to TVs computers and radios, but I have a feeling
that something initially triggered this. I think I read that computer
power supplies can give off frequencies which the body mey not like.

I have the common symptoms, a ringing in my ears all the time I am in
the house, sometimes a sensitivity to bright light and noise, I cannot
watch TV at all because my eyes ache and when I am in the same room as
the TV my ears ring louder. And I have noticed the ringing get worse
when I am near metal pipes in the house as well, so maybe there is RF
travelling along them too. But I still wonder whether their is
something wrong with the computer as well.

Don't worry if you don't have the answers, I just thought it was worth
asking. I do wonder what would happen if I tried a different computer,
maybe over time my symptoms might gradually go away, but the trouble is
I'm not sure about this, and it would be an expensive experiment to
buy a new/ 2nd hand computer just to see if this is the case. The other
possibility is that the computer monitor which is quite old and is a
CRT one, is not working like it should do and maybe this is causing the
problems.

In a message dated 7/17/2007 12:25:33 PM GMT Daylight Time,
[hidden email] writes:

Don't worry if you don't have the answers, I just thought it was worth
asking. I do wonder what would happen if I tried a different computer,
maybe over time my symptoms might gradually go away, but the trouble is
I'm not sure about this, and it would be an expensive experiment to
buy a new/ 2nd hand computer just to see if this is the case. The other
possibility is that the computer monitor which is quite old and is a
CRT one, is not working like it should do and maybe this is causing the
problems.



Definatey, try a smallish LCD in place of the CRT, you have all the symptoms
here and your ideas are probablly correct, I have found that I have got
worse the more I have used the PC of late, reatining the maddening nerve like
sensation in my head for days ! Try to circumvent this stuff that triggers you
as much as possible, lots of time out of the house in the fresh air certainly
helps me.








[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

A different computer can help, marginally. For instance,
my brother recently replaced his old desktop computer with
a new Dell. The old one had a plastic case, and produced
a terrible amount of RF noise, even when it was just plugged
in, but powered off. The Dell is an improvement.

It's been my experience that the monitor, in general,
is the worst offender to tinnitus. For instance, the Dell
came with a cheapo, E207WFP 20" LCD. After only a few
minutes of use it was re-packaged to be returned.
My ears were blaring.

Even after all the modifications I've made to my computer,
the tinnitus still persists. Though it is much more
tolerable. The LCD power supply is the worst offender, then
the LCD driver circuit board. There's not much one
can do about the stray RF leaking out of the LCD
matrix.

http://www.ahappyhabitat.com/computer.html

Eli

--- In [hidden email], "jaime_schunkewitz"
<jaime_schunkewitz@...> wrote:

I've just ordered a 2nd hand 15" Dell TFT monitor to finally replace
the CRT one, so hopefully it will be better. But I think I may be
reacting alot to the power supply on our Compaq computer. On the side
of the power supply it says it has an input of 50-60Hz 200-240v
5/2.5A and output 145W max. I think either this power supply or
some other component or wires are causing me more problems than the
monitor. And sometimes when I first turn it on I hear this strange
noise which is almost like a low musical note, which goes on for
maybe 15-30 seconds and it seems worse when my symtoms are worse and
I've also noticed that the normal noise that the power supply makes
sounds alot louder when I move my head near it, almost like some sort
of resonance is happening or something.

--- In [hidden email], "jaime_schunkewitz"
<jaime_schunkewitz@...> wrote:
>
> A different computer can help, marginally. For instance,
> my brother recently replaced his old desktop computer with
> a new Dell. The old one had a plastic case, and produced
> a terrible amount of RF noise, even when it was just plugged
> in, but powered off. The Dell is an improvement.
>

>
> http://www.ahappyhabitat.com/computer.html
>
> Eli
>

Why did the plastic case produce so much RF? Does RF travel better
along things with smooth surfaces. Have you treid any of the ferrite
chips that you can get to put on electrical wires? Apparently they
are very good at blocking RF and also extremely cheap, and I was
going to get some but I wasn't sure what spec I needed.

btw, I've mentioned this before on here but I have a screen filter
which blocks some of the electric field from the monitor and reduces
glare and it has helped my symptoms a bit, especially my eyes. It's
made by Kenington and only cost about £15

> I've just ordered a 2nd hand 15" Dell TFT monitor to finally replace
> the CRT one, so hopefully it will be better.

For what its worth, I've always had a harder time tolerating LCD
monitors than CRTs. I think the only potential advantage of an
LCD is that you put the whole thing further away from you on
your desk. But in order to do that, you'll need a larger screen
with less resolution (e.g, a 26" HDTV with PC input and 1366 x 768
resolution is probably viewable from a good distance). Also
make sure to get one with the power supply separate from
the monitor (the last one I bought had it built into the
monitor!)

Marc